auto darkening lens #10
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stuartshomepc
Bronze Member
I can't specifically comment on just the lens but I bought one of the Harbor Freight auto darkening helmets on sale for about $50. It works great. I would never go back to a standard lens. It's nice to be able to see the work and not have to keep flipping the helmet up and down.
Stuart
Dongerosa
Bronze Member
ditto on Stuart's comment. had mine 4 years now and still ticking.
Flatheadyoungin
Veteran Member
i'm not a fan of HF stuff but my wife's dad bought one.....i the attitude, "yeah, right.....junk......"
when i used it, i was impressed........that was about 7 years ago.........my grandpa was in his 80's and was having trouble with his helmet......i took him the FIL's and let him try it........he was sold and i ordered him one......still using it about 4 years later.......
when i bought my mig about 4 years ago, i got me one.....still using it.....
the only thing that i might mention is that my welding instructor a few years ago used it and was impressed at it for the price......he was very skeptical.......he did say that he had run in to the cheaper ones having light and dark spots in the lens (not giving you protection)........he said the way to fix this is to lay the hood under a low wattage incandescent light and leave it for a few days to "balance" the lens.......don't know if he was full of crap or not ........he was a pretty sharp fella and an actual welding engineer......
when i used it, i was impressed........that was about 7 years ago.........my grandpa was in his 80's and was having trouble with his helmet......i took him the FIL's and let him try it........he was sold and i ordered him one......still using it about 4 years later.......
when i bought my mig about 4 years ago, i got me one.....still using it.....
the only thing that i might mention is that my welding instructor a few years ago used it and was impressed at it for the price......he was very skeptical.......he did say that he had run in to the cheaper ones having light and dark spots in the lens (not giving you protection)........he said the way to fix this is to lay the hood under a low wattage incandescent light and leave it for a few days to "balance" the lens.......don't know if he was full of crap or not ........he was a pretty sharp fella and an actual welding engineer......
Scotty370
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An Auto-Dark lens for ten bucks? I'm missin' sumpin'! ~S
bal0123
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I got one from HF and it is awesome.
I have one that I like it is the type that is solar powered. If i don't use it for a while i have put up to the shop light. Sometimes I stike an arc on scrap material for a few seconds. I have used it for over 20 years. But i payed $150 for it. I don't know if you could get the quality for $10.
I think I'd double-check that price. I know HF sells a pack of 5 clear lens protectors for their auto-darkening helmets for around $10. (See link: - Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices ) I'd almost put money on that being what they are calling an "auto-darkening lens". Probably a badly-named entry in the computer. I can't find any entries for just the lens in their on-line catalogs.
J_J
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mechanic,
If you call again, get a part number.
If you call again, get a part number.
Willl
Elite Member
Your obviously not talking about a welding helmet are you ?
GE222
Gold Member
Yes mechanic, please get the part number.
Dongerosa
Bronze Member
ditto on Stuart's comment. had mine 4 years now and still ticking.
still ticking! 31 Dec 2012 Ditto with my "cheap azz chineeezze" plasma cutter for the 2005 time frame.
Gary Fowler
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I cant see them selling the lens for $10 when by adding $1 worth of plastic in shape of welding hood cost 30-50 depending on if it is on sale. Must be a mistake.
I have a couple of the HF AD hoods and I have to keep the one I am using (other is still in the box) in the sunlight to keep the battery charged otherwise it wont darken for a few seconds. It wont burn your eyes even though it doesnt darken, just makes a few bright spots in you eyes.
The hood is a couple years old and kept charged hanging on the wall up until a couple months ago when it stopped working. I took it out into the sun and left it a few days and it worked properly. I then make a hook to hang if directly in front of the shop window so it could get some sunlight since I havent been in the shop much in the last few months. I think this is what caused it to quit working properly just setting in the dark. I dont see any way to replace a battery in it, maybe it uses some kind of capacitor to hold the charge till the welding light charges the solar array. Anyway, if you have one, keep it in a well lighted place or exposed to some sunlight in order to keep it working right.
I have a couple of the HF AD hoods and I have to keep the one I am using (other is still in the box) in the sunlight to keep the battery charged otherwise it wont darken for a few seconds. It wont burn your eyes even though it doesnt darken, just makes a few bright spots in you eyes.
The hood is a couple years old and kept charged hanging on the wall up until a couple months ago when it stopped working. I took it out into the sun and left it a few days and it worked properly. I then make a hook to hang if directly in front of the shop window so it could get some sunlight since I havent been in the shop much in the last few months. I think this is what caused it to quit working properly just setting in the dark. I dont see any way to replace a battery in it, maybe it uses some kind of capacitor to hold the charge till the welding light charges the solar array. Anyway, if you have one, keep it in a well lighted place or exposed to some sunlight in order to keep it working right.
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ENC
Gold Member
I have found that if I put mine in the sun while i am running my leads and clamping all my work the helmet is good to go by the time I need it.
